Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-12-22
HAncED AT CHARLES CITY.
Chester Bellows Pays the Ex.
trem est Penalty for the kaurder Of
Alice Waterman.

Alice Waterman.
Charles City, Iowa, Special Telegram,
Dec. 17.-Ml preparations for the banging
OF BELLOWS had been completed this morn.
Ing, and there was nothing TO do but 10
await the hour. In the morning the rural
inhabitants began to pour into the town.
At So'clock around the jail was excitement.
A multitude gathered, thinking that they
would be afforded an opportunity to wit
ness the execution, but their desire was turn
daway ungratified. Beside a few reporters,
the sheriiis OF the different counties OF the
state and those authorized by law none
were tp witness the execution. Bellows
last night on earth was one not soon to be
forgotten BY the faithful death watchers.
Up to 8 o'clock he manifested the same
fearless disposition suggested by the words
he spoke to the warden at Anamosa. He
begged him to tell the sheriff to hang him
early in the morning that he might
get TO hell In time for breakfast. Short
ly after o o'clock the sheriff
entered his cell with a letter from his sis
ter, Mrs. Waterman, the contents OF which
will never be known. The letter was hand
ed to Bellows, and Sheriff Clark took oe-
casion to admonish him to prepare for
eternity, as he was TO be surely hanged in
the morning, Bellows looked up into his
face. saying that he would laugh at him on
kil0 bdlADWEt 1uc 5HtTtii Stepped from his
cell, and soon he heard the means from Bel
lows weeping over the last written words
rom q devoted sister. An hour wac
hpent in alternate weeping and
swearing. Shortly after 10 o'clock he
made n break for liberty, raising n large
armchair to strike down one OF the guards
as he was bent over feeding the fire. He
IVES prevented in this and went to his cell
cot and lay down. He vent to sleep right
- 40, - = al 1f1 .AA ..-A1
when he arose and again went to abusing
the guards, and demanded that he be liber-
ated. The guards gave him no satisfAc-
ton, and he again e TO his cot, ana
slept Tor over an hour. He woke for the
last time on earth shortly after z, and re-
fused TO accept OF any food, whatever. At
1890 the jail enclosure vas thrown open,
and the persons who had tickets passed in.
A terrible sound greeted their ears. It
WAS the voice OF Bellows in his cell resist
log the officers as they were putting the
shackles upon him. He succeeded in in.
ficting an ugly wound by biting one OF the
guards hands. He was forced to the
wall and firmly bound. At 10.43 o'clock
Sheriff Clark stepped on the platform.
calling In u firm, clear voice the names
pi the twelve iurymen, each respond
ing to his name. The death warrant was
then read to Bellows in his cell
huu az lOs1O tHt utdtu iildFcH COmLueDceUs
The window from the criminals cell had
been taken out and u stairway leading up
to the g~allows erected. Up they assembled,
the sheriff leading, followed by his deputy.
Then came Bellows in stocking feet partly
carried by two strong men. His strength
had failed him. He took a position over
the trap and stared at the audience for a
moment, his face wearing a sad, detected
look. His legs were pinioned. but not a
word escaped his lips until Sheriff Clark
adjusted the moose. Then he broke
down, crying PLEASE don't. Please
lon't. Please don't. Please DON'T The
moose was then frightened, when. in almost
~inaudiable words, he said: ''I'm innocent"
His supporters stepped on either side
Of him, Sheriff Clark moved to the rear,
and at 1856 O'Clock, with that terrible lie
fresh on his lips, the trap was sprung, and
Bellows ushered into eternity. Nine min
utes after the trap dropped life was practi-
eally gone. He was cut down at l1:15.
An examination proved that his neck had
been broken in two places. No relatives
Witnessed the execution, and no one would
accept the remains. 1t was buried in the
cemetery, but it is rumored that it viii not
long remain there.